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Saturday, January 21, 2012

jane/jack of all trades?

i often notice that after posts about techniques or media that might be new to people, comments are left that voice concern about sticking to what one knows...

let me say here i am not referring to anything with a high financial cost... that i understand... i have a list of tools i would love that i cannot afford... we all do...

and we are also going to leave the fear factor out of it as well (though i will again suggest that you get out of your own way!)...

i have a habit of doing something new when too many (or high pressure) deadlines are imminent... seems a bit self-sabotaging maybe, but i tend to not let myself play enough... so in those circumstances something takes over that forces me to...

a new technique or material doesn't have to be something that defines you... it doesn't necessarily push everything you know to the side... what i have learned, is that you can integrate them as i did above... i don't think there is anything more rewarding, really, than making something your own by integrating it into your aesthetic...

you wonder how it will fit into your work... well, how about to start, you just play? you don't put the pressure on yourself to finish anything with it... just see how it goes and if you like it...

it's like having another child - it will have its own strengths and look, but can be a happy part of your family...

if you truly speak through one medium, that is wonderful... absolutely jaw dropping work is done that way... i had just noticed the comments following posts and wanted to address them...

you don't need to worry about being a 'master of none' - i think that when you begin working in metal - or your primary medium - you learn as much as you can about it, improve your skills (always)... i work to hone my craft constantly... and let's face it, when things don't work out, we learn... experience is our best teacher...

like a tree growing, the higher your branches reach to the sky, the deeper your roots should grow... it has to be like that - it requires balance...

so if you feel the pull, go try something! when i started using fibers in my work, i literally added tiny touches of embroidery floss - but it grew from there...

I can't tell you how many times I work so hard at creating something only to push it to the saying to myself, "Well, that was another class I just paid for!" I love to experiment get excited when everything comes together just right. I don't, however, get terribly concerned when it doesn't. I let the disappointment remain for as long as it takes me to push it aside and pick up something new to start over.MaryAnn

Great post! Sometimes I reach so far with my branches that I forget to tend to my roots. I've gotten better about nourishing my current skill before trying something new, which in turn makes trying the new stuff much less stressful.

MD - totally agree - playing with new stuff or forms often takes us in that slightly new direction that does not define us but as you say can add a new dimension to what we do. Go well and play well. B